Putter bubble

ABSTRACT

A convex, hemispherically shaped striking member is removably attached to the blade of a putter. Practice putting strokes are executed. The trajectory of the golf ball indicates whether the golf ball was struck squarely. Repeated practice, resulting in putting strokes in which the ball moves in a straight line in the intended direction, builds muscle memory for executing a desired putting stroke and improved concentration and focus on the golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to the sport of golf and more particularly to teaching aids for improving the putting stroke.

[0003] B. Description of Related Art

[0004] The execution of the putting stroke, performed with the proper form and technique, is vital to the golfer if they are to reduce the number of strokes per round of golf. Over 50% of all golf strokes are taken on or around the putting green. Most golfers endeavor to improve their game and are constantly searching for ways to develop better technique, including putting technique.

[0005] Many various types of devices have been proposed in the art for improving the putting stroke. The following U.S. Patents are representative: U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,106; 6,106,406; 6,045,452 and 5,885,165.

[0006] A device has been commercialized under the name Putter Ball TM, in which a special purpose practice putter includes a golf ball permanently affixed to the shaft of the putter. In this device, the angle at which the golf ball on the putter strikes the golf ball determines the trajectory of the golf ball, an in the process indicating the accuracy of the stroke.

[0007] This device has many drawbacks, including the different weight and feel of the putter, the off-set center of gravity of the putter, and the fact that the putter is a special purpose device, requiring an expensive purchase by the golfer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a much more convenient, effective, and economical way to improve the putting stroke. Additionally, the device of the present invention provides immediate feedback to the golfer. The present putting aid consists of a convex, hemispherically shaped striking member comprising a portion of a sphere, typically approximately a complete hemisphere but it could be more or less than a hemisphere. The term “hemisphere” is used herein not in the mathematical sense of exactly one half of a sphere, but rather a short-hand term for a convex surface that is some substantial portion of a sphere. Also, the sphere need not be exactly a perfect sphere, but rather some reasonable approximation of a sphere is all that is required.

[0009] The hemisphere is removeably fastens to the striking surface or blade of a putter. In the illustrated embodiment, the hemisphere is approximately 2 inch in diameter and has a radius of approximately ⅜ inch, and is made of a slightly resilient material. The hemisphere has a flat backing which contains an adhesive substance. The adhesive adheres the hemisphere to the blade of the putter. The hemisphere is removed from the putter after use and either stored for later use or discarded.

[0010] The device of the present invention is ideally suited to practicing a centerline pendulum putting technique. In use, the golf ball is supposed to be struck such that the surface of the hemisphere contacts the ball in a straight line, coincident with a centerline of the golf ball pointing in the desired direction of travel of the golf ball. If the blade of the putter is not moving in a straight line position to the exact center of the golf ball and coincident with the centerline of the ball pointing in the desired direction of travel, the ball will immediately move in an off-line direction to one side or another. The path of the golf ball thus immediately indicates to the golfer whether a less than square blade position relative to the golf ball has occurred; i.e., a defective putting stroke.

[0011] The present invention thus assists the golfer in perfecting a putting stroke that will consistently move the putter in a straight line through the golf ball, and perfectly square to the golf ball. In addition, the device facilitates the development of a focus and concentration on the centerline of the golf ball where it intersects the rear surface of the golf ball during execution of a putting stroke.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter with a putter bubble of the present invention attached to the striking face of the putter, ready to strike a golf ball in a practice putting stroke.

[0013]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the putter bubble shown isolated;

[0014]FIG. 1B is a side view of the putter bubble, showing the dimensions R and H in an illustrated embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the butter and golf ball of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of the putter and golf ball of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package containing at a few of the putter bubbles of FIG. 1, showing the putter bubbles releasably attached to a backing strip, and instructions either printed on a sheet or on the package containing instructions on how to use the putter bubbles; and

[0018]FIG. 5 illustrates how the trajectory of the ball coming off the putter (with the putter bubble attached) indicates whether the ball was hit squarely, and thus indicates the accuracy of the putting stroke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019]FIG. 1-5 show a golf teaching aid in accordance with the present invention. The golf swing teaching aid is affixed to the golfer's regular putter 10, and consists of a convex, hemispherically shaped striking member 12 referred to herein occasionally as a “putter bubble.” The putter 10 includes a striking surface or blade 14 which is normally used to strike a golf ball 16 in the putting stroke. The putter bubble 12 is removably fastened to the blade 14 of the putter. For example, the putter bubble has a flat rear surface 18 having an adhesive. The surface 18 allows the putter bubble 12 to be releasably adhered or affixed to the blade 14 of the putter. Other techniques for affixing the putter bubble to the putter, such as by using mechanical, magnetic, or chemical techniques, are considered equivalent to the use of an adhesive. The fastening should be such that there is no play or slop between the putter bubble and the putter when the ball is struck.

[0020] Referring still to FIGS. 1-4, the convex, hemispherically shaped striking member 12 is preferably made from a relatively light weight, slightly resilient, rubber or rubberlike material. A resiliency or hardness similar to the hardness of a golf ball is one embodiment. A softer, more elastic material is also possible. It should have a radius of curvature R (FIG. 2) of less than one inch, and in the illustrated embodiment has a radius of curvature of slightly less than one-half inch, such as ⅜ inch. The height H of the hemisphere is about b {fraction (3/4)} inch. With a larger radius of curvature, the ability of the device to give accurate feedback on the location of where the ball was struck starts to be diminished. If the radius of curvature is too small, it could become too difficult to hit the golf ball with the center of the striking surface coinciding with the centerline of the golf ball. The putter bubble could be made of any color, but should be highly visible. Black, white or yellow are a few examples.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment the putter bubbles come in a package 22 of at least one, and preferably two or three putter bubbles 12. The putter bubbles are adhered to a backing strip 24. The package includes directions 26. A putter bubble 12 is removed from the backing strip 22 and attached at the balance point of the putter. The putter bubble is positioned vertically along the striking surface of the putter such that the center of the putter bubble is approximately at the same elevation of the golf ball to be struck, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0022] In use, the putter is manipulated in a putting stroke to strike a golf ball such that the convex, hemispherically shaped striking member 12 strikes the golf ball. The trajectory of the golf ball indicates whether the ball was hit square, and thus indicates the quality of the putting stroke, as indicated in FIG. 5. After the desired number of practice strokes are taken, the putter bubble is removed from the club head and the putter is used in the normal fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the putter bubble is reattached to the backing strip 24.

[0023] The purpose of the putter bubble teaching aid is to improve the accuracy of the putting stroke, and in particular to improve the directional accuracy. The desired stroke is one in which the plane of the striking surface meets the stationary golf ball at a 90 degree angle, causing the ball to move off the putter in a straight line (coincident with the direction of the putting stroke) towards the intended direction. Golfers who can repeat this movement to perfection will take less total putting strokes on putting surfaces and thereby lower their golf score.

[0024] The teaching aid of this invention is based on the observation that a sphere (such as the convex hemisphere of the putter bubble) can only strike another sphere (i.e., the golf ball) at only one point. This point of contact from which the golf ball moves forward. When the sphere is struck along its centerline 20 (FIGS. 2, 3), it moves in a straight line 30 in the desired direction 32. If a sphere is struck by another sphere at a point not on the centerline, it will travel in a direction other than straight, as illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 5.

[0025] By placing the convex, hemispherically shaped putter bubble on the striking surface of the putter, and preferably at the balance point or sweet spot of the putter, the observations set forth above hold true. Therefore, the individual using a putter with the present teaching aid installed will concentrate on making the putting stroke square to the golf ball. The trajectory of the golf ball will indicate how well the putting stroke was executed. If the putting stoke is executed properly and the point on the putter bubble contacts the golf ball along the centerline of the golf ball, the ball will move in the desired straight direction. Conversely, if the golf ball is not struck on the centerline, it will move off to one side or the other. Immediate feedback on the quality of the stroke is obtained. Constant practice with the putter bubble can result in muscle memory associated with a proper putting technique, which will result in the repetition of the desired putting stroke.

[0026] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that we have described method of improving the accuracy of the putting stroke of a golfer, comprising the steps of: attaching a convex, hemispherically shaped striking member to a striking surface of a putter; taking at least one practice putting stroke with the putter wherein the at least one practice putting stroke is executed such that the striking member strikes the golf ball, with the trajectory of the golf ball from the putter indicating the accuracy of the putting stroke; removing the striking member from the putter; and executing at least one putting stroke in a normal fashion.

[0027] From the foregoing, it will also be apparent that we have a described a package containing at least one convex, hemispherically shaped striking member or putter bubble adapted to be fastened to a striking surface of a putter. The package contains printed instructions for instructing a golfer to attach one of the hemispheres to the striking surface of the putter. The golfer may execute practice putting strokes with their putter such that the striking member strikes a golf ball and the trajectory of the golf ball from the putter is indicative of the accuracy of the putting strokes.

[0028] Variation from the illustrated embodiments can be made without departure from the true scope of the invention. This true scope will be determined by reference to the appended claims, interpreted in light of the foregoing. 

1. A golf swing teaching aid for use with a putter having a golf ball striking surface, comprising, in combination: a convex, hemispherically shaped striking member, a means for removably attaching said striking member to the striking face of said putter; wherein said putter is manipulated in a putting stroke to strike a golf ball such that said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member strikes said golf ball and the trajectory of said golf ball indicates the quality of the putting stroke.
 2. The golf teaching aid of claim 1, wherein said striking member is made from a resilient material.
 3. The golf teaching aid of claim 1, wherein said convex striking member comprises a hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface and a flat surface engaging said striking face of said putter.
 4. The golf teaching aid of claim 3, wherein said hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface has a radius of curvature of less than inch.
 5. The golf teaching aid of claim 3, wherein said hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface has a radius of curvature of less than one half inch.
 6. The golf teaching aid of claim 3, wherein said flat surface comprises an adhesive wherein said flat surface is releasable adhered to said striking face of said putter.
 7. The golf teaching aid of claim 1, wherein said convex striking surface is attached to said putter at approximately the balance point of said putter and at an elevation corresponding to the height of a golf ball.
 8. A method of improving the accuracy of the putting stroke of a golfer, comprising the steps of: attaching a convex, hemispherically shaped striking member to a striking surface of a putter at an elevation such that the center of said striking member corresponds to and is substantially aligned with the center of a golf ball to be struck in a putting stroke; taking at least one practice putting stroke with said putter wherein said at least one practice putting stroke is executed such that said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member strikes said golf ball, with the trajectory of said golf ball from said putter indicating the accuracy of the putting stroke; removing said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member from said putter; and executing at least one putting stroke in a normal fashion.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member is made from a resilient material.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member comprises a hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface and a flat surface engaging said striking face of said putter, and where said flat surface further comprises an adhesive for retaining said flat surface against said striking surface of said putter.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface has a radius of curvature of less than one inch.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein said hemispherically shaped golf ball striking surface has a radius of curvature of less than one half inch.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein said convex striking member is attached at approximately the balance point of said putter and at an elevation corresponding to the height of a golf ball.
 14. Golf teaching apparatus, comprising, in combination: a package containing at least one convex, hemispherically shaped striking member adapted to be fastened to a striking surface of a putter; and printed instructions, associated with said package, for instructing a golfer to attach one of said convex hemispherically shaped striking members to said striking surface of said putter, whereby said golfer may execute practice putting strokes with said putter such that said convex, hemispherically shaped striking member strikes a golf ball and the trajectory of said golf ball from said putter is indicative of the accuracy of said putting strokes.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one striking member further comprises an adhesive for fastening said striking member to said putter. 